Woman Bilked in Mail Scam
Jeff Garretson - Mon 01:13 PM 07/09/2012
Police say she wired $3,865 over seas.
Scammers take an elderly Salina woman for over $3,500.
According to Lt. Scott Siemsen, a 74-year-old woman contacted police after learning she had been scammed.
Siemsen tells KSAL News that on July 2nd the woman received a letter and bogus check from "Coast Capitol Financial Services" of Los Angeles.
The letter explained that she had won $245,000 and needed to deposit their check for $4,000 into her account - then wire money to someone in Ireland to cover the processing fees.
The woman sent two money grams to Ireland for a total amount of $3,865 before contacting police.
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BONEMAN
Monday 9 July 2012 13:21 Report this comment
Did the lady read the fine print or do so research before hand.. If its too good to be true then its not real.. The only way it would be real is if there was some kind of U.S. stamped on it.. But check with banks before messing with those things..
Iamgonnagetu
Monday 9 July 2012 14:34 Report this comment
I would think by now elderly people bringing checks like this to banks would trigger or set off a warning to the teller accepting the check. If the banks were losing the monies on these scams you can bet their tellers ect would not be just taking the checks but would be inquiring about the checks.
GetAGrip
Monday 9 July 2012 14:41 Report this comment
You are so very correct iamgonnagetu, if the banks were out the money, they would have their tellers on full alert when a check came in. Sorry for the lady's loss. You just have to be extra careful now days.
getumgranny
Tuesday 10 July 2012 06:45 Report this comment
Iamgonnagetu, You are SOOOOO right!!! I would even suggest by now, it's time for the federal government to put a law in place that DOES hold the banks responsible for this type of scam!! After receiving all that "bail out" money alot of the banks got, and did not pass down to the consumer like they were supposed to, they should be able to absorb this loss. I would ask again though, WHERE WAS HER FAMILY!!?? Elderly people in some cases are not educated enough on these things to know what they are doing. I'm fortunate enough that I can identify this type of scam, I have received this stuff, I tear it up and throw it away!! The teller's do need to be paying attention, when someone brings these checks in that are out of the norm for a customer, they need to go to the supervisor and ask before cashing!! Time for the banks to start accepting some of this responsibility!! I too am very sorry for this woman, no doubt this is going to be a hardship on her.
Travis2
Tuesday 10 July 2012 09:53 Report this comment
Like clockwork, another one born in Salina every month.
Iamgonnagetu
Tuesday 10 July 2012 11:49 Report this comment
I think the news reporting agencies need to name the banks that are accepting these checks from the elderly or anyone else for that matter. That just might do something immediately.
Iamgonnagetu
Tuesday 10 July 2012 11:53 Report this comment
Comes close to home. I was at my aunt's house this morning and she got one in her mail. These crooks now suggest you not tell anyone about it so that they do not try and get your money. They sure cover all their bases.
tlittle
Tuesday 10 July 2012 12:12 Report this comment
gonnagetu, Finally, we agree. This stuff happens thousands of times in the country, and there is nothing that can be done because only the Feds can reach outside of USA and touch em, and they want nothing to do with it. The tellers could be the key to this problem, HELLO tellers, a teller should respond with their reasons why this is allowed routinely, and I am sure there is a reason, hopefully someone can respond.